Two teenagers sentenced after Rochdale cenotaph damaged
- Published
Police guarded the cenotaph after the poppies were damaged
Two teenagers have been sentenced for damaging poppies laid on a war memorial while shouting antisemitic abuse.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the pair, both 17, damaged the wreaths at the cenotaph in Rochdale while shouting "hateful antisemitic language" at 12:00 GMT on 6 November.
The youths were "angry" after seeing a man remove Palestinian flags from the cenotaph on social media, the CPS said.
They were given community sentences at Manchester Magistrates' Court.
The CPS said they were sentenced to 10-month referral orders after they admitted the damage and using antisemitic language.
They were ordered to pay £25 compensation each and costs of £25 each.
The pair also filmed themselves during the incident and later uploaded the video to social media.
'Profoundly disrespectful'
A man, who had laid one of the damaged wreaths, said: "The damage caused by the youths was disgusting and deliberate.
"This is a disrespectful act for the people of Rochdale, the veterans, and the people of the parachuting regiment association."
Senior prosecutor Matthew Siddall, said: "This was a profoundly disrespectful act - Rochdale Cenotaph is an important symbol to the community and commemorates those who gave their lives to protect our cherished freedoms.
"By desecrating two poppy wreaths while spouting antisemitic language, the teenagers showed not only their contempt for the people of Rochdale, but also their hateful attitude toward the Jewish community.
"Hate has no place in our society and we are committed to prosecuting those who use hateful language."
The cenotaph was again vandalised the next day after "Free Palestine" graffiti was daubed on it.
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